Report - Government Executive
Report - Government Executive
Report - Government Executive
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Readiness Tool<br />
The DCIPS Readiness Tool is a key communication channel and access point for program<br />
information, guidance, and training. Yet its target audience is primarily the HR personnel<br />
involved in implementation within the components. It contains numerous training courses and<br />
briefings developed by both OUSD(I) and the components.<br />
A data repository for DCIPS implementers, the Readiness Tool is most used by the HR staff and<br />
their contract support. At present, there are a total of 428 registered users, and usage is light. A<br />
query of monthly activity indicated fewer than 20 hits per month. March 2010 had the highest<br />
number of hits in the 29 months since its launch. 120 Given that the tool is to be a resource for<br />
sharing guidance, communication, and training products, the level of engagement is notably<br />
limited.<br />
The Readiness Tool has a number of challenges. From a design standpoint, the site structure is<br />
not intuitive; materials are not indexed and no search capability exists. Various forms of content<br />
reside on the site, but there is no clear indication of what is there, who developed it, what its<br />
purpose may be, or how accurate the materials are.<br />
The tool shares many design features with the DCIPS website, including the labels of buttons<br />
and links, though they direct the user to different content within the Readiness Tool. For<br />
example, the Documents link on the website takes the user to published reports, while the same<br />
button on the tool takes the user to a mix of training course materials and briefings. Such design<br />
features confuse users.<br />
A robust tool engages and presents or directs users to contextually relevant material, based on<br />
their role and issue. The existing Readiness Tool lacks this dynamic interaction as it is a static,<br />
un-indexed repository of information. OUSD(I) has not played an active oversight role in<br />
reviewing or managing the content; this adds to the difficulty of knowing whether the materials<br />
convey accurate information.<br />
As web-based tools are critical to supporting the information needs of the DCIPS community,<br />
more robust, user-centered performance support tools are needed to address the range of<br />
performance support topics and issues that DCIPS encompasses.<br />
120 OUSD(I) Readiness Tool usage report.<br />
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